CTE Consortium acquires Union Carriage & Wagon from Murray & Roberts

Johannesburg, 29 January 2013 – Murray & Roberts has announced the disposal of the business of Union Carriage & Wagon Company (“UCW”) to the CTE Consortium, a consortium including CTE Investments (Pty) Ltd (“Commuter Transport Engineering”) or (“CTE”) and the Industrial Development Corporation (“IDC”), for an undisclosed amount.

Henry Laas, Group Chief Executive, Murray & Roberts comments: “We are pleased with the transaction and believe that it reaffirms our core focus on construction and engineering, part of our overarching Recovery & Growth strategy.”
Commuter Transport Engineering was established in 1999 with the primary aim of refurbishing commuter rail coaches and is the first black woman-owned refurbishment company to enter the South African rail industry. The company’s operating divisions include CTE Touws River, CTE Durban, CTE Engineering Services and CTE Projects with operations in Durban, Cape Town and Touws River.
Patricia Norris, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of CTE, comments: “We are excited about the future prospects of rail infrastructure, manufacturing and engineering in South Africa, as CTE and UCW are ideally positioned to take full advantage of these prospects, as it is our core focus. Our unified strengths will enhance critical production capacity required to execute on Government’s rail infrastructure objectives.”
This is the second time that the IDC has partnered with Commuter Transport Engineering – the corporation provided start-up capital to CTE more than 10 years ago.
IDC Executive for Mining and Manufacturing Industries, Abel Malinga said: “The IDC’s participation in the deal is in line with the corporation’s strategy of localisation. The infrastructure capex programme provides a window of opportunity for rejuvenating the country’s industrial base through rebuilding industries that have declined over the years – thus assisting to prevent de-industrialisation of our economy.”
The Industrial Development Corporation is a national development public finance institution set up to promote economic growth and industrial development in South Africa.
The combined company will create many benefits including the delivery of a national footprint, introduction of new technology to improve efficiencies and delivery of quality services to existing and future clients, re-alignment of the business with additional business units to drive turnover and profitability and present professional development and career progression opportunities to an enlarged workforce.
“We have an experienced management team in place and we believe that consolidation of the industry is necessary to create a more conducive supply environment”, concludes Norris.
For further information contact:
Mr Ed Jardim
Group Communications Executive
Mobile +27 (0) 83 357 6282
E-mail: eduard.jardim@murrob.com
About Murray & Roberts
Murray & Roberts is South Africa’s leading engineering, contracting and construction services company. It offers civil, mechanical, electrical, mining and process engineering; general building, construction and infrastructure development; materials supply and services to the global underground mining market and selected emerging market natural resources and infrastructure sectors.
The company operates in Southern Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australasia and North and South America. The company is based in Johannesburg South Africa, where it has a public listing on the JSE Limited.
Murray & Roberts is a group of world-class companies and brands aligned to the same purpose and vision, and guided by the same set of values.
More information is available at www.murrob.com
About Commuter Transport Engineering (CTE)
Commuter Transport Engineering (CTE) was established in 1999 by Patricia Norris with the primary aim of refurbishing commuter rail coaches. Since then, the company has enjoyed considerable success in the rail refurbishment industry in South Africa.
As the first ‘black’ company, owned by a woman, to enter the commuter train refurbishment industry, the continued success of CTE has been built on knowledge, integrity, superior customer service and a reputation for value-added solutions that contribute to sustainable client success.
The company’s operating divisions include CTE Touws River, CTE Durban, CTE Engineering Services and CTE Projects and have operations in Durban and Cape Town and Touws River.
More information is available at www.cte.co.za/site
About the IDC
The IDC is a national development finance institution set up to promote economic growth and industrial development. The institution is owned by the South African government under the supervision of the Economic Development Department.
The IDC’s primary objectives are to contribute to the creation of balanced, sustainable economic growth in South Africa and on the rest of the continent. The institution promotes entrepreneurship through the building of competitive industries and enterprises based on sound business principles.
For more information, please visit us on www.idc.co.za

About CTE

Celebration of CTE’s Acquisition of Union Carriage and Wagon

The celebration of the acquisition of Union Carriage and Wagon (UCW) by a Commuter Transport Engineering (CTE) led consortium was recently held at the Africa Rail Exhibition in Sandton on the 25th June.

CTE was established in 1999 with the primary aim of refurbishing commuter rail coaches and was the first black woman-owned refurbishment company to enter the South African rail industry. The company’s operating divisions include CTE Touws River, CTE Durban and CTE Engineering Services with operations in Touws River, Pietermaritzburg and Cape Town. The acquisition of UCW signifies a major step in CTE’s vision to be a consistent leading provider of superior engineering solutions in the African rail industry and more than doubles the company’s asset and employee base. It also extends CTE’s footprint nationally and materially expands its workshop facilities to cover 58 ha in total.

This is the second time that the IDC has partnered with CTE – the corporation provided start-up capital to CTE more than 10 years ago.

During the 2 day Africa Rail exhibition the CTE/UCW exhibition stand had visitors from various companies, exhibition delegates and VIP’s like the Minister of Transport, Mr Ben Martens and the PRASA Group CEO, Mr Tsepho Lucky Montana.

Press release

Commuter Transport Engineering Investments (CTE) and Faiveley Transport are pleased to announce that they have formed a partnership to create a local company that will design, manufacture and sell rail equipment for railway applications in South Africa. This new Company secures the localisation for Faiveley Transport products in South Africa.
“Joining forces with CTE to create Kopano South Africa is a major step forward for our Group and a commitment to building our presence in this growing market”, said Thierry Barel, Chairman and CEO, Faiveley Transport.

About Faiveley Transport

Faiveley Transport is a leading supplier for rolling stock equipment. The Group has been accompanying car builders, operators and railway maintenance providers for over 90 years. Their comprehensive range of products and systems is the widest on the market and includes air conditioning, passenger access systems, platform doors and gates, braking systems, couplers, passenger information and services.

These products and systems are organised into four activities – Brakes & Safety, Access & Information, Energy & Comfort and Services guaranteeing a high level of security, comfort and availability.

The Group’s sales reached €988M in 2012/13. Faiveley Transport employs more than 5,400 people in 25 countries.

About CTE Investments
CTE Investments was established in 1999 by Patricia Norris with the primary aim of refurbishing commuter rail coaches. Since then, the company has enjoyed considerable growth and success in the rail new build and refurbishment industry in South Africa.

The CTE organisation provides innovative rail transport solutions to South Africa and selected export markets. These solutions are produced at their three manufacturing sites in Nigel (UCW), TouwsRiver and Pietermaritzburg. CTE has over time developed and continued to improve its capabilities to deliver complex rolling stock projects and has through these capabilities successfully offered the following services to its customers:
• Complex rolling stock system integration
• Design and manufacture of new rolling stock
• Refurbishment and upgrade (modernisation) of existing rolling stock – life extensions
• General overhauls
• Field service support

The Partnership
The partnership between Faiveley Transport, recognised globally as a quality supplier of rolling stock components and systems, and CTE, an established role player in the South African rail industry provides for an offering of localised products and services which are based on superior manufacturing and performance criteria.

As a combined group CTE and Faiveley Transport will support the South African Authorities goal to:
• develop a modern railway industry by developing local capabilities in the local supply chain;
• create jobs: more than 1400 jobs will be created in South Africa;
• develop skills through a multi-million Rand investment;
• bring modern railway industrial & manufacturing processes to South Africa;
• develop a preferential procurement strategy that will support black empowerment in their supply chain;
• meet socio-economic development obligations by spending millions in related projects;
• support employment equity with specific attention to women and young people.

Commuter Transport Engineering Investments and Faiveley Transport would like to invite the press to attend the official launch of the new company, Kopano South Africa.

Latest News

Press release

Commuter Transport Engineering Investments (CTE) and Faiveley Transport are pleased to announce that they have formed a partnership to create a local company that will design, manufacture and sell rail equipment for railway applications in South Africa. This new Company secures the localisation for Faiveley Transport products in South Africa.
“Joining forces with CTE to create Kopano South Africa is a major step forward for our Group and a commitment to building our presence in this growing market”, said Thierry Barel, Chairman and CEO, Faiveley Transport.

About Faiveley Transport

Faiveley Transport is a leading supplier for rolling stock equipment. The Group has been accompanying car builders, operators and railway maintenance providers for over 90 years. Their comprehensive range of products and systems is the widest on the market and includes air conditioning, passenger access systems, platform doors and gates, braking systems, couplers, passenger information and services.

These products and systems are organised into four activities – Brakes & Safety, Access & Information, Energy & Comfort and Services guaranteeing a high level of security, comfort and availability.

The Group’s sales reached €988M in 2012/13. Faiveley Transport employs more than 5,400 people in 25 countries.

About CTE Investments
CTE Investments was established in 1999 by Patricia Norris with the primary aim of refurbishing commuter rail coaches. Since then, the company has enjoyed considerable growth and success in the rail new build and refurbishment industry in South Africa.

The CTE organisation provides innovative rail transport solutions to South Africa and selected export markets. These solutions are produced at their three manufacturing sites in Nigel (UCW), TouwsRiver and Pietermaritzburg. CTE has over time developed and continued to improve its capabilities to deliver complex rolling stock projects and has through these capabilities successfully offered the following services to its customers:
• Complex rolling stock system integration
• Design and manufacture of new rolling stock
• Refurbishment and upgrade (modernisation) of existing rolling stock – life extensions
• General overhauls
• Field service support

The Partnership
The partnership between Faiveley Transport, recognised globally as a quality supplier of rolling stock components and systems, and CTE, an established role player in the South African rail industry provides for an offering of localised products and services which are based on superior manufacturing and performance criteria.

As a combined group CTE and Faiveley Transport will support the South African Authorities goal to:
• develop a modern railway industry by developing local capabilities in the local supply chain;
• create jobs: more than 1400 jobs will be created in South Africa;
• develop skills through a multi-million Rand investment;
• bring modern railway industrial & manufacturing processes to South Africa;
• develop a preferential procurement strategy that will support black empowerment in their supply chain;
• meet socio-economic development obligations by spending millions in related projects;
• support employment equity with specific attention to women and young people.

Commuter Transport Engineering Investments and Faiveley Transport would like to invite the press to attend the official launch of the new company, Kopano South Africa.